The necklace of pearls of the imperial suburban residences is an exceptional and unique decoration of St. Petersburg. Among them, Oranienbaum is the favorite place of Peter III and one of Catherine the Great's beloved. The main jewel of the residence is the Grand Menshikov Palace. Address in Oranienbaum: Palace Avenue, 46.
The name of the place in the monument at the palace
Near the park facade of the Grand Palace there is an unusual monument. It is located just behind the fence separating the inner garden from the park. Near it, you will almost always meet groups heading for an excursion to the Menshikov Palace of Oranienbaum.
It is a bronze cast fruit-bearing orange tree. And it is not established here by chance. After all, the literal translation of the name of the imperial residence sounds like “orange” or “orange tree”.
It is not by chance that this is also due to one fact. Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, the richest Petersburger of the Petrine era and the first owner of these places and the palace, brought here seedlings of exotic orange trees from Europe and planted them in the palace greenhouses. And when they began to bear fruit, he always had juicy and tasty fruits at the table. And he sent them as a gift to Peter I.
History of Oranienbaum
The history of the lands on the Gulf of Finland is connected with the history of the longest war between Russia and the Northern War with Sweden for the conquest of prince lands, including the eastern part of the Baltic Sea coast adjacent to the mouth of the river. Among the territories recaptured during the hostilities of 1702-1704. there were the lands of Oranienbaum. Peter I gave the plots to his entourage on the conditions of drainage and development. This plot was donated to them by a friend and illustrious commander Alexander Danilovich Menshikov.
After the disgrace and exile of Menshikov, the next owner of Oranienbaum was Peter Fedorovich, and after his abdication and death - Catherine II.
Further, special attention was paid to the residence by Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, and then their descendants.
Builders and owners
The history of the Grand Menshikov Palace of Oranienbaum began during the tenure of lands by A. D. Menshikov. It was then that a private garden was built and a canal was dug, which became the main road from the bay to the entrance to the palace. Menshikov’s palace towered over the canal, erected by the project of several architects at once: Giovanni Mario Fontana, Andreas Schluter, Johann Braunstein, Johann Schedel.
The construction lasted from 1710 to 1727. As a result, a three-story building with side arched symmetrical galleries, ending on one side with a house church, on the other, with the Egyptian pavilion and additional outbuildings attached to it, grew up on a hill. The main entrance is decorated with a high three-story staircase, decorated with sculptures. The upper platform in front of the entrance was decorated with amazing fountain.
With subsequent owners, Antonio Rinaldi, Andrei Ivanovich Shtakenschneider, Garald Bosse and Ludwig Bonstedt gradually participated in the reconstruction of the building.
In Soviet times, the building was nationalized. It, like many palace and manor monuments of architecture, suffered a utilitarian fate: it housed a hospital, college, dormitory.
Palace curiosity
One of the wonders of the Grand Menshikov Palace in St. Petersburg can be called a Turkish bath with a glass roof. This miracle in the early 18th century was able to try and appreciate Peter Alekseevich himself. The bathhouse was located in the center of the eastern gallery, which led to the Japanese Pavilion. True, at that time he still did not bear such a name.
Peter's chambers
In the Great Menshikov Palace of Oranienbaum, Alexander Danilovich personally arranged several rooms for Emperor Peter I. They very much differed in their decoration from other rooms of the palace: they were small, the decor was modest, and the decor was just a tiled stove. Pyotr Alekseevich did not like luxury, but he was very attentive to working amenities and order. While Menshikov abundantly used tiles of the best quality in the design of his chambers.
Summer residence of the small courtyard
Oranienbaum was donated by Elizaveta Petrovna to Peter Fedorovich the very next year, after his arrival in Russia. At that time, the residence was in ruins. The ideas of Pyotr Fedorovich and his young wife were embodied here with the consent of Elizaveta Petrovna and with her funding. However, Oranienbaum absorbed and reflected the tastes of a young grand-ducal couple.
The reconstruction of the main staircase of the palace belongs to this period, which was made of beech wood, brought from the homeland of Peter Fedorovich - Holstein. And the walls of the second floor were decorated with the personal monogram of Pyotr Fedorovich.
The division of premises into female and male halves was retained, but Rastrelli expanded his living space by adding additional premises. Oval galleries framed by a balustrade were erected.
A carved iconostasis made by the remarkable Russian master Ivan Zarudny was installed in the Panteleimon house church of the palace.
The eastern pavilion was redeveloped - divided into two floors under the Hermitage. It used the latest lifting mechanisms to deliver dishes to each of the places at the table.
The Japanese pavilion housed a collection of Japanese porcelain - Catherine II was very passionate about collecting works of various types of art.
To decorate the interiors of the Menshikov Palace of Oranienbaum, gilded carving and stucco molding, expensive fabrics, sculptural and paintings were used.
The most romantic place
The most interesting place of the palace was the private quarters of the favorite of Emperor Peter III Elizabeth Vorontsova. They were located on the ground floor and were connected with the emperor’s chambers by a spiral staircase. The most amazing of these chambers in the Grand Menshikov Palace of Oranienbaum is the Golden Cabinet. This small and cozy boudoir next to the bedchamber was decorated with gilded stucco decoration.
Oranienbaum was elected for the stay of Peter Fedorovich as Elizaveta Petrovna, who determined the residence for the location of the small courtyard.
Most of the chambers were richly decorated with tiled tiles and parquet floors of precious trees, gilding and fresco paintings. The rooms had heating, which was carried out using fireplaces, also tiled.
The chambers of Pyotr Fedorovich and Elizaveta Vorontsova abounded with decor filled with symbolic meaning. Frequent portraits of the Roman goddess Diana, the patroness of the moon, according to some versions of art historians, can talk about the role of E. Vorontsova, reflecting the greatness of Apollo, the sun god, in whom the future emperor Peter III himself guessed.
The goddess Diana was also the goddess of hunting and natural fertility. Around her depicted cupids and small hunting weapons - bow and arrows. But it was with the help of an arrow that Amur instilled love in the hearts of mortals. But weapons can serve as a means of destroying pretenders to possession. Perhaps the bow and arrow killing the animals was an allegory denoting the right to possess only the subject of love of Peter Fedorovich.
Everyone who wants to visit this romantic place needs to know the working hours of the Grand Menshikov Palace in Oranienbaum: all days except Monday, from 10.30 to 18 hours.